Bits and pieces of my life. I am a lifelong Christian. I have been married for over 41 years to Stan. No children. We have 1 Italian Greyhound named Capodimonte and 2 calico cats named Capt. Fishipants (a rare MALE calico) and Daphne Doolittle. We have 9 nieces/nephews and 10 grandnieces/nephews whom we love. My hobbies are genealogy, reading, digital scrapbooking, history, dogs, homemaking. This is a personal blog, not a business. I share what interests me I am not selling or making a profit.

Sophia Hancock was born 5/18/1819 in Union County, SC to Thomas Hancock (4/10/1761 in London, England - 3/24/1845 in Union County, SC) and Agnes Johnson (DOB 1790 in Union County, SC - DOD 1860 in Union County, SC)

1850 U.S. Census of Union County, SC, Roll M432_859, Pg 108, Image 463, Lines 29-30 "Samuel Harris", Lines 31-35 "S. P. Harris", Lines 36-49 next page Lines 1-6 "James C. Harris", Lines 7-11 "Thomas Harris", Lines 22-32 "Mathew Harris"
Dwelling 299, Family 299, Harris, Samuel, 78 yrs old (DOB would be 1772), M(ale), W(hite), Tenant, Born in SC (?), Can read and write
Harris, Tryvena, 75 yrs old (DOB would be 1775), F, W, Born in SC (?)
Dwelling 300, Family 300, Harris, S.P., 45 yrs old (DOB would be 1805), M, W, Planter, $1500 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and writeHarris, Sophia, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), Born in SC, Can read & writeHarris, James, 16 yrs old (DOB would be 1834), Born in SC, Labor, Attends schoolHarris, Jane, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, William, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), Born in SC, Attends school
Dwelling 301, Family 301, Harris, James C., 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), M, W, Planter, $2000 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and writeHarris, Frances, 35 yrs old (DOB would be 1815), F, W, Born in SCHarris, Hesterann, 12 yrs old (DOB would be 1838), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Maryann, 10 yrs old (DOB would be 1849), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Both, 6 yrs old, M, W, Born in SCHarris, Samuel, 4 yrs old, M, W, Born in SCHarris, Frances, 2 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
next pageHarris, James, 6/12 mos old, M, W, Born in SC
Shell, Nancy, 62 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and write
Floyd, Hyram, 27 yrs old, M, W, Labor, Born in SC, Cannot read or write
Floyd, John, 14 yrs old, M, W, Can read and; write
Richard (nln), 10 yrs old, M, (There is a check mark in the box which is different from all the others, indicates black?), Born in SCHarris, Louvinier (sic), 8 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 302, Family 302, Harris, Thomas, 60 yrs old, M, W, Planter, $350 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and writeHarris, Sarahann, 30 yrs old, F, W, Born in SCHarris, Leticia, 18 yrs old, F, W, Born in SC, Can read and writeHarris, Benjamin, 14 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Jefferson, 1 yrs old, M, W, Born in SC
Dwelling 303, Family 303
Dwelling 304, Family 304
Dwelling 305, Family 305 Harris, Matthew, 40 yrs old (DOB would be 1810), M, W, Planter, $125 Real Estate Value, Born in SC, Can read and writeHarris, Gustyann, 37 yrs old (DOB would be 1813), F, W, Born in SCHarris, Cornelia, 19 yrs old (DOB would be 1831), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, James, 17 yrs old (DOB would be 1833), M, W, Born in SC, Labor, Attends schoolHarris, Catharine, 15 yrs old (DOB would be 1835), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Taylor, 11 yrs old (DOB would be 1839), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Eugenia, 9 yrs old (DOB would be 1841), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Fisherann (sic, should be Patricia Ann), 7 yrs old (DOB would be 1843), F, W, Born in SC, Attends schoolHarris, Edward, 5 yrs old (DOB would be 1845), M, W, Born in SCHarris, Anderson, 3 yrs old (DOB would be 1847), M, W, Born in SC

1880 U.S. Census of Pinckney, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 598A; Enumeration District: 158, Lines 19-42, "James L. Harris", "Amanda Millwood", "Sophia Harris", "J. Fincher Harris" (sic)
Dwelling 293, Family 293, James L. Harris, W(hite), M(ale), 46 yrs old (DOB 1834), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCNancy A. Harris, W, F, 40 yrs old (DOB 1840), Wife, Married, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCBenjamin F. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Single, At School, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCNapoleon Powell, W, M, 16 yrs old (DOB 1864), Boarder, Single, At School, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCOscar Harris, W, M, 20 yrs old (DOB 1860), Son-in-law, Married, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSallie Harris, W, F, 14 yrs old (DOB 1866), Daughter, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Dwelling 294, Family 294, Amanda Millwood, W, F, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Head, Single, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCFannie Millwood, W, F, 10 yrs old (DOB 1870), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMary Millwood, W, F, 6 yrs old (DOB 1874), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCAmanda Millwood, W, F, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSamuel Millwood, W, M, 2 yrs old (DOB 1878), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMarvin Millwood, W, M, 9/12 mos old (DOB 1879), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCBeaty Parthina, B, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Cook, Widowed, Cook, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Dwelling 295, Family 295, Sophia Harris, W, F, 69 yrs old (DOB 1811), Head, Widowed, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCGabriel Harris, B, M, 69 yrs old (DOB 1811), Servant, Married, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cannot read or writeEtta Harris, W, F, 21 yrs old (DOB 1859), Granddaughter, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCWillie Harris, W, M, 15 yrs old (DOB 1865), Grandson, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCJoe Gallman, B, M, 75 yrs old (DOB 1805), Servant, Divorced, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cannot read or write
Dwelling 296, Family 296, J. Fincher Harris, W, M, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCLucy E. Harris, W, F, 24 yrs old (DOB 1856), Married, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMinnie E. Harris, W, F, 5 yrs old (DOB 1875), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCJohn W. Harris, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCDeliah S. Harris (sic), W, F, 1 yrs old (DOB 1879), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSarah A. Harris, W, F, 47 yrs old (DOB 1833), Mother, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

Samuel Pleasant Harris died 8/9/1879 in Union County, SC.
"S.P. Harris died at his residence of that dread disease, cancer, 8/9/1879, in
the 74th year of his age. He suffered much the last 12 months. He was member of
the Methodist Church. He had been married 45 years and leaves and wife and 3
children."

Sophia Hancock Harris died 9/15/1884 in Union County, SC. They are both buried at Bethlehem United Methodist Church and Cemetery, 1622 Kelly Road, Union, Union County, SC.

1) James Lemuel Harris was born About 1834 in Union County, SC. He married Nancy Ann GallmanAbout 1857 in Union County, SC. Nancy Ann Gallman Harris was born 1/13/1838 in Union County, SC. James L. Harris died 11/13/1891 in Trough Shoals (now known as Pacolet), Spartanburg County, SC and Nancy Ann Gallman Harris died 10/28/1913 in Union County, SC.*

2) Jane C. Harris was born About 1835 in Union County, SC. She married William H. Koon (aka William H. Kohn). W. H. Koon was born 3/1844 in Union County, SC. Jane C. Harris Koon died 5/12/1907 in Union County, SC. William H. Koon died 2/14/1920 in Union County, SC. They are buried in Bethlehem United Methodist Church, 1622 Kelly Road, Union, Union County, SC.

3) William H.S. Harris was born 5/24/1839 in Union County, SC. He married Mary Ann Ophelia Foster on 1/2/1870 in Union County, SC. Ophelia Foster Harris was born About 1841 in SC. W.H.S. Harris died 12/28/1917 in Union County, SC. Ophelia Harris died in 1936 in Union County, SC. They are both buried at Gilead Baptist Church, 748 Gaffney Highway (aka Highway 18), Jonesville, Union.

U.S. Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles
Name: James L Harris
Rank at enlistment: Private
State Served: South Carolina
Survived the War?: Yes
Service Record: Enlisted in Company A, South Carolina 18th Infantry Regiment.Mustered out on 09 Apr 1865 at Appomattox, VA.
Sources: Index to Compiled Confederate Military Service Records Southern Historical Society Papers: Appomattox Paroles ANV

James Lemuel Harris and Nancy Ann Gallman had three children:
1) Mary Etta Harris (aka Marietta Harris, Martha Harris, Mary Harris) DOB About 1857 in Union County, SC; DOD 9/16/1922 in Union County, SC of pulmonary tuberculosis. She married Isaac Smith Vaughn on 8/8/1873 in Union County, SC. Isaac Smith Vaughn was born 10/27/1852 in Union County, SC; DOD 5/2/1916 in Union County, SC of hemiplegia. They had one son, William Smith Vaughn.

1900 U.S. Census of Jonesville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1544; Page:1B; Enumeration District: 0071; FHL microfilm: 1241544, Lines 91-100, "John B. Foster"John B. Foster, Head, W(hite), M(ale), Born Dec, 1855, 44 yrs old, Married 24 yrs, Born in GA, Both parents born in SC, Merchant, Can read and write, Owns home free of mortgageSallie F. Foster, Wife, W, F, Born June, 1860, 39 yrs old, Married 24 yrs, 11 children with 8 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCCorrell H. Foster, Son, W, M, Born Feb, 1879, 21 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, Lawyer, Can read and writeLilly M. Foster, Daughter, W, F, Born March, 1881, 19 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, Can read and writeAlex S. Foster, Son, W, M, Born June, 1883, 15 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, Dental surgeon, Can read and writeIda V. Foster, Daughter, W, F, Born Nov, 1885, 14 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, At schoolJane F. Foster, Daughter, W, F, Born Apr, 1888, 12 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, At schoolGilbert S. Foster, Son, W, M, Born Sept, 1890, 9 yrs old, Single, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC, At schoolClara E. Foster, Daughter, W, F, Born Oct, 1893, 6 yrs old, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SCHughnes F. Foster (sic), Son, W, M, Born Oct, 1896, 3 yrs old, Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SCKizzy Sims, Head, B(lack), F, Born Mar, 1850, 50 yrs old, Widowed, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cook, Cannot read or write, Owns home free of mortgageJoe Sims, Son, B, M, Born June, 1875, 24 yrs old, Married 2 yrs, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cook, Can read and writeMary C. Sims, Daughter-in-law, B, F, Born Jan, 1878, Married 2 yrs, Born in FL, Both parents born in FL, Cook, Can read and write

1910 U.S. Census of Main Street, Jonesville, Union, South Carolina; Roll: T624_1474; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0117; FHL microfilm: 1375487, Lines 31-36, "John B. Foster"John B. Foster, Head, M(ale), W(hite), 54 yrs old (DOB 1856), Married 34 yrs (DOM 1876), Born in GA, Both parents born SC, Retail merchant, piano, Can read and write, Owns home free of mortgageSallie F. Foster, Wife, F, W, 49 yrs old (DOB 1861), Married 34 yrs, 11 children with 9 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Can read and writeJannie F. Foster, Daughter, F, W, 22 yrs old (DOB 1888), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCClara E. Foster, Daughter, F, W, 16 yrs old (DOB 1894), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCFuller H. Foster, Son, M, W, 13 yrs old (DOB 1897), Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCIren S. Foster (sic), Daughter, F, W, 9 yrs old (DOB 1901), Born in SC, Both parents born in SCNancy A. Harris, Boarder, F, W, 72 yrs old (DOB 1838), 1st marriage, 3 children with 3 still living, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1920 U.S. Census of Jonesville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: T625_1713; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 136; Image: 689, Lines 29-28, "John B. Foster"John B. Foster, Head, Owns home free of mortgage, M(ale), W(hite), 60 yrs old (DOB 1860), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Salesman pianoFlorence Foster, Wife, F, W, 25 yrs old (DOB 1895), Married, Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCJohn B. Foster Jr., Son, M, W, 2 yrs old (DOB 1918), Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSarah Foster, Daughter, F, W, 1 yrs old (DOB 1919), Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

1930 U.S. Census of Main Street, Jonesville, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 2214; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 7; Image: 979.0; FHL microfilm: 2341948, Lines 54-59, "John B. Foster"John B. Foster, Head, Owns home valued at $1,000, M(ale), W(hite), 74 yrs old (DOB 1856), Married at age 20 yrs old (DOM 1876), Can read and write, Born in GA, both parents born in SC, Cotton weigher for cotton millFlorence S. Foster, Wife, F, W, 35 yrs old (DOB 1896), Married at age 35 yrs old (DOB 1895), Married at age 23 yrs old (DOM 1918), Can read and write, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSarah F. Foster, Daughter, F, W, 11 yrs old (DOB 1919), Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SCJohn D. Foster Jr., Son, M, W, 10 yrs old (DOB 1920), Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SCPhilip E. Foster, Son, M, W, 7 yrs old (DOB 1923), Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SCAnnie L. Foster, Daughter, F, W, 4 yrs 9/12 mos old (DOB 1925), Born in SC, Father born in GA, Mother born in SC

After J.B. Foster's death Florence Mae Scott Foster died 10/28/1979 in Gaffney, Cherokee County, SC.

Obituary of Mrs. Florence S. Foster, 10/29/1979Mrs. Florence Scott Foster, 86, of Route 5, widow of John B. Foster, died Sunday at 6:05 a.m. in Cherokee County Memorial Hospital unexpectedly after several years of declining health.
A native of Union County, she was the daughter of the late Landy S. and Clara Fowler Scott, a seamstress and a member of Temple Baptist Church.
Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Tom Bratton of Gaffney and Mrs. Virgil M. Rochester of Escondido, Calif.; two sons, Phillip E. Foster and John B. (Jack) Foster, both of Augusta, GA; one sister, Mrs. John H. Sparks of Greenwood; eight grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren.
Services will be held Tuesday at 4p.m. at Shuford Hatcher Funeral Home Chapel conducted by Revs. Gene Hines and Jeff Jones with burial in Frederick Memorial Gardens.
Pallbearers will be J.Q. Moore, Manning Fowler, Jim Bratton, Steven Foster and T.J. Sihele.
The body is at the funeral home where family will receive friends tonight from 7-9.

3) William "Willie" Harris DOB About 1865 in Union County, SC. I couldn't source him after the 1870 census so I don't know which William Harris he was.

A relationship between Tink Harris and Amanda Millwood apparently began just after his return from the Civil War and continued in some fashion for the next 15 to 20 years. Amanda Millwood had 8 children that were possibly James Lemuel Harris children. Tink was separated from his wife, Nancy, in the 1870 U.S. Census and Amanda was living next door to him. His wife and their 3 children was living next door to his parents in 1870. But in 1880, he was living with his wife again. Amanda was still next door. Two of Amanda's children were listed in Tink and Nancy Harris's household, while their own children were living with the Tink's parents, their grandparents, Samuel Pleasant and Sophia Hancock Harris.

1880 U.S. Census of Pinckney, Union County, South Carolina; Roll: 1242; Family History Film: 1255242; Page: 598A; Enumeration District: 158, Lines 19-42, "James L. Harris", "Amanda Millwood", "Sophia Harris", "J. Fincher Harris" (sic)
Dwelling 293, Family 293, James L. Harris, W(hite), M(ale), 46 yrs old (DOB 1834), Head, Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCNancy A. Harris, W, F, 40 yrs old (DOB 1840), Wife, Married, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCBenjamin F. Harris, W, M, 12 yrs old (DOB 1868), Son, Single, At School, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCNapoleon Powell, W, M, 16 yrs old (DOB 1864), Boarder, Single, At School, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCOscar Harris, W, M, 20 yrs old (DOB 1860), Son-in-law, Married, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSallie Harris, W, F, 14 yrs old (DOB 1866), Daughter, Married, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Dwelling 294, Family 294, Amanda Millwood, W, F, 35 yrs old (DOB 1845), Head, Single, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCFannie Millwood, W, F, 10 yrs old (DOB 1870), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMary Millwood, W, F, 6 yrs old (DOB 1874), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCAmanda Millwood, W, F, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSamuel Millwood, W, M, 2 yrs old (DOB 1878), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMarvin Millwood, W, M, 9/12 mos old (DOB 1879), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCBeaty Parthina, B, F, 32 yrs old (DOB 1848), Cook, Widowed, Cook, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC
Dwelling 295, Family 295, Sophia Harris, W, F, 69 yrs old (DOB 1811), Head, Widowed, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCGabriel Harris, B, M, 69 yrs old (DOB 1811), Servant, Married, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cannot read or writeEtta Harris, W, F, 21 yrs old (DOB 1859), Granddaughter, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCWillie Harris, W, M, 15 yrs old (DOB 1865), Grandson, Single, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCJoe Gallman, B, M, 75 yrs old (DOB 1805), Servant, Divorced, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC, Cannot read or write
Dwelling 296, Family 296, J. Fincher Harris, W, M, 29 yrs old (DOB 1851), Married, Farmer, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCLucy E. Harris, W, F, 24 yrs old (DOB 1856), Married, Keeping house, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCMinnie E. Harris, W, F, 5 yrs old (DOB 1875), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCJohn W. Harris, W, M, 3 yrs old (DOB 1877), Son, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCDeliah S. Harris (sic), W, F, 1 yrs old (DOB 1879), Daughter, Born in SC, Both parents born in SCSarah A. Harris, W, F, 47 yrs old (DOB 1833), Mother, Works in field, Born in SC, Both parents born in SC

James L. Harris deeded land to Amanda and her children, whom he named on the deed, around 1889, and at his death in 1891, the deed was registered in the County Court House. Intriguingly, Amanda, who had appeared in the 1870 and 1880 censuses as MILLWOOD is called Amanda BRADLEY on the deed.

Union County, SC Death Notice From Early Newspapers 1852-1914, compiled by Tommy
Vaughn, Pg 51, Death Notices from The Weekly Union Times, obituary of James L.
Harris.James Lemuel "Tink" Harris' death notice in The Weekly Union Times, 11/20/1891,
Pg 51 of bk, "James L. Harris, better known as Tink Harris, formerly of the
Brown Creek neighborhood, but lately of Trough Shoals, died at his home there
last Friday [13 Nov] after suffering a stroke of paralysis while at work
building a house. He was buried at Bethlehem last Saturday."

Union County, SC Death Notice From Early Newspapers 1852-1914, compiled by Tommy
Vaughn, Pg 211, Death Notices from Union Times, obituary of Mrs. Nancy Ann
Harris.Nancy Ann Harris' death notice in the Union Times, 10/31/1913, pg 211 of bk,
"Mrs. Nancy Ann Harris, who had been sick several months, died at the home of
her son-in-law, J. B. Foster, with whom she lived, at 4:00 this AM [28 Oct]. She
was the d/o Reuben Gallman, and was married to J.L. Harris in 1857, who
preceded her to the grave several years ago. She joined the Methodist church at
Bethlehem when a girl. She was in her 77th year of age. Burial was at Gilead
Cemetery."

Monday, October 21, 2013

So I never shopped for a wedding dress and I had no idea of the complexities of shopping for a dress for that special day. Just this week I was going through a box of old newspaper clippings that my Aunt Ruth had collected about our family. She had snipped obituaries, announcements, articles that were about family, and wedding announcements. And they did social articles on wedding showers! Today a wedding announcement is awfully short but back then they went into great details. All the fashion, decorations, food and music were detailed. Here is an example:

"The pre-nuptial event (a wedding shower) was given in the home of the hostesses' mother, Mrs. H.
J. H. in Norwood. Throughout the party rooms, numerous points of vantage were bedecked with floral bouquets arranged with pastel spring blooms. When Miss W. arrived, she was presented a corsage of gardenias by the hostesses."

"(The matron of honor) wore a waltz length gown of ruby red pure silk shantung fashioned with a scooped neckline and bouffant pleated skirt. She carried a spray of white pom-pom chrysanthemums with fern and baby's breath. The bride wore a gown of Chantilly lace over satin with a bodice with a marquisette yoke outlined with seed pearls and sequins. The gown had long tapering sleeves and the bouffant skirt ended in a chapel length train. Her silk illusion veil was two tiered and fingertip length. It was attached to a satin tiara trimmed in seed pearls and sequins. She carried a spray of white pom-pom chrysanthemums cenetere with a white purple-throated orchid showered with white narcissi.

As I was reading through these I didn't know what some of the terms meant. So, just out of interest, I started researching some of the things I was reading in those newspaper wedding announcements. I thought I would share it with you. Let me say that I, in no way, sell products on my blog. I don't design and sell wedding dresses. I just did a Google image search for the photos. Such beautiful wedding dress designs must make a woman's choice very hard. My purpose in this post is to define and give you visual examples, not sell you a dress. I hope you enjoy.

Fabrics
I found it very difficult to find photos that show the differences in the fabric when it's the traditional wedding white. So you will see some colorful photos to better show the difference in sheen.

First, what type of fabric makes up wedding dresses? What is the difference between chiffon and organza, silk charmeuse and silk taffeta?

Peau de soie - French for ‘skin of silk' and also known as Duchess silk. A soft silk fabric of satin weave having a dull finish, non-shiny satin. Peau de Soie has a moderately stiff drape

This is a pleated peau de soi bodice with sweetheart neckline and a fancy "girdle".

Grace Kelly's wedding gown was made of peau de soie.

Charmeuse - Charmeuse is a lightweight fabric woven with a satin weave, where the warp threads cross over three or more of the backing (weft) threads. The front side of the fabric has a satin finish—lustrous and reflective—whereas the back has a dull finish. It can be made of silk or a synthetic lookalike such as polyester. Silk charmeuse is more expensive and delicate but is softer and a better insulator. Polyester charmeuse is cheaper and can often withstand machine washing, but it does not breathe as well as silk. Charmeuse differs from plain satin in that charmeuse is softer and lighter in weight.

A vintage 1933 charmeuse wedding dress.

Shantung Silk - Shantung silk is a heavy fabric with a rough nubby surface, made of spun wild silk. Silk Shantung has less slubs (those crosswise irregularities in texture) and what it does have will be much smaller in thread width than a silk dupioni. It's a plain-weave silk fabric made from yarns with irregular or uneven texture. In addition, while the silk shantung will still have a fair amount of body and crispness, it will usually be thinner than the dupioni and will therefore be suitable to more delicate garments. Silk shantung can almost appear flowing, and is the perfect medium between silk charmeuse and a stiff silk dupioni or stiffer taffeta.

Silk Taffeta - Taffeta is a crisp, smooth, plain woven fabric made from silk or synthetic fibres. The word is Persian in origin and means "twisted woven." It is considered to be a "high-end" fabric, suitable for use in ball gowns, wedding dresses, and interiors for curtains or wallcovering. There are two distinct types of silk taffeta: yarn-dyed and piece-dyed. Piece-dyed taffeta is often used in linings and is quite soft. Yarn-dyed taffeta is much stiffer and is often used in evening dresses. Taffeta has a nice sheen to it or light reflective.

An antique silk taffeta dress

Chiffon - Chiffon is the French word for a cloth or rag, is a lightweight, balanced plain-woven sheer fabric. Chiffon is made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibres. Chiffon can be dyed to almost any shade, but chiffon made from polyester can be difficult to dye.

A pleated and gathered chiffon column dress.

Organza - Organza is a thin, plain weave, sheer fabric traditionally made from silk. Many modern organzas are woven with synthetic filament fibers such as polyester or nylon. Silk organza is woven by a number of mills along the Yangtze River and in the province of Zhejiang in China. A coarser silk organza is woven in the Bangalore area of India. Deluxe silk organzas are woven in France and Italy. It is a very sheer, crisp fabric that is strong and durable with a firm hand and a flat, smooth texture. The open weave is naturally stiff without the addition of any "stiffeners."

Marquisette - Marquisette is a sheer meshed, fabric, a lightweight open fabric of leno weave in cotton, rayon, silk, or nylon. Used for sheer curtains.

Tulle - Tulle is a fine, extremely lightweight, machine made net has a distinctive small mesh effect.

Vintage 1950's wedding dresses with tulle.

Chantilly lace - Chantilly lace is a handmade bobbin lace named after the city of Chantilly, France dating as far back as the 17th century but it became famous in the 18th century. Though called Chantilly lace, most of the lace bearing this name was actually made in Bayeux in France and Geraardsbergen, now in Belgium. Chantilly lace is known for its fine ground, outlined pattern, and abundant detail. The pattern is outlined in cordonnet, a flat untwisted strand. The best Chantilly laces were made of silk, and were generally black, which made them suitable for mourning wear. White Chantilly lace was also made, both in linen and silk, though most Chantilly laces were made of silk. Another notable thing about Chantilly lace is the use of a half-and-whole stitch as a fill to achieve the effect of light and shadow in the pattern, which was generally of flowers.

Train lengths
This measurement is taken from the back of the natural waist, to the very end of the gown's train.

The brush or sweep train is the shortest of the train styles, apart from not having a train at all. It barely "brushes" the ground behind your dress, adding a modest amount of volume to the back of your dress.

The court train is slightly longer than the brush, extending approximately 3 feet behind the waist.

The chapel length train is the happy medium between the simplicity of the brush and court trains, and the formality of the cathedral and royal trains. The chapel train extends about 5 feet from the waist,

The semi-cathedral train extends approximately 5 to 6 feet behind the gown.

The cathedral train is perfect for a very formal and traditional bride who wants all eyes on her as she walks down the aisle. This train extends approximately 7 feet behind the waist, and will require assistance

The royal, or monarch, length train is fitting only for the bride who really wants to make a statement. This train extends beyond 10 feet from the waist, spanning the aisle as you walk toward the altar. With a train this size, you will definitely need help making sure that you are not weighed down and that all that fabric is where it needs to be.

Princess Diana

Kate Middleton

The Watteau train is characterized by the way the single panel attaches to the top of your dress, either at the shoulders or the upper back of the bodice. This train can be the same length as the rest of your gown so that it falls straight down to the ground, or it can extend out behind you for a more dramatic look.

The Panel train isn’t part of the dress, but rather a separate panel of fabric about a foot wide that trails behind the dress. Usually detachable, panel trains can be made into any length desired.